Applicants vie for top Westborough school post

WESTBOROUGH – About 20 people have applied to become the next superintendent of schools and more are expected by a Jan. 20 deadline, said School Committee Chairwoman Ilyse Levine-Kanji.

The committee agreed to form a screening committee that will review all applications and start narrowing down the list to about 10 candidates for initial interviews. That committee will be made of up of various School Committee members, teachers, district employees, principals and parents who are actively involved with the schools, the board decided.

"But it’s our job to pick the superintendent," said board member Stephen Doret, who suggested that School Committee take another look at the entire pool of candidates even after the screening committee narrows down the list to make sure that all qualified candidates get a fair chance at the top job in the school district that serves about 3,600 students.

Applicants' names will be kept confidential in the early part of the process to avoid causing problems for people who may not want their current employers to know that they’ve applied in Westborough, he said.

Levine-Kanji said a recent online survey that sought public opinion on the skills and qualities desirable in the new superintendent drew an enthusiastic response, with 299 people offering a variety of suggestions. Additional opportunities for public input will be offered later in the search process, she said.

The committee aims to interview finalists for the position in February and March, with a decision possible by late March after board members visit the finalists’ current districts.

The successful candidate will replace Superintendent Marianne O’Connor, who announced at a December School Committee meeting that she plans to retire at the end of the current school year.